NSDC Launches Elite Training Teams to Lead Nigeria’s Sugar Revolution

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has concluded the pioneering cycle of its historic residential training program founded under the strategic framework of the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) 2.0.

This initiative marks a definitive push to build a world-class workforce capable of transforming the nation’s industrial landscape, aligning field and factory capabilities to achieve the national goal of 2 million metric tons (MT) of domestic sugar production.

Speaking at the state-of-the-art campus of the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI) in Ilorin, Executive Secretary/CEO of NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, said the future of the industry depends entirely on a new caliber of skilled professionals who can drive rigorous efficiency and profitability across the value chain.

Barkin said, under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) 2.0, this means implementing key empirical pillars, from accelerated land preparation and advanced irrigation to high-yielding seed cane production.

He said both field productivity and factory efficiency can move the needle significantly.

“True sustainability – and finally eliminating our dependence on imports – requires the fusion of the two.

“Under the performance-oriented framework of NSMP 2.0, we hold operators to rigorous accountability.

“We need to develop people who can master both sugarcane yield and maximum extraction efficiency to unlock long-term economic sustainability.

“The market response to the first initiative has already shattered expectations.

“The enormous demand and deep commitment from stakeholders highlights a serious technical talent deficit that the NSDC is systematically addressing to support the rapid expansion of the industry,” he said.